Apple tree named &#39;Gradiyel&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Gradiyel’ is a new and distinct apple tree notable for its semi-upright plant habit, freely flowering and fruiting habit, mid-season flowering time, and high storage capacity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of co-pending U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/276,488 filed Sep. 11, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Malus domestica (Borkh.)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Gradiyel’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Gradiyel’.

The new apple variety ‘Gradiyel’ originated from a controlled cross inHérault, France of Malus domestica ‘Christmas Rose’, (not patented), asthe female, or seed parent, with Malus domestica, ‘Gradigold’, (notpatented) as the male or pollen, parent The new Apple tree wasdiscovered and selected by the inventors as a single plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Hérault, France in 1991.

Asexual reproduction of the new apple tree by grafting, since 1994 inHérault, France, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces trueto type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new variety have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Gradiyel’ as a new and distinctcultivar of apple:

-   -   1. Semi-upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering and fruiting habit.    -   3. Mid-season flowering time.    -   4. High storage capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows the tree of the new variety with fruit;

FIG. 2 shows the branch and fruit of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 shows the fruit of the new variety;

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed botanical description is based on observations oftrees planted in 1995, and described during the 2003 and 2004 growingseasons at Hérault, France. Color descriptions refer to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (1995). It should be understood thatthe characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon culturalpractices and climatic conditions, and can vary with location andseason. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group ofplants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Botanical classification: Malus domestica Borkh cultivar Gradiyel.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed parent.—Malus domestica ‘Christmas Rose’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Malus domestica ‘Gradigold’ not            patented.-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Habit.—Semi-Upright.        -   Size.—Height: 3.0 m.        -   Trunk.—Diameter: 12-18 cm at 30 cm above graft union; bark            texture smooth; color brown RHS 200C.        -   Branches.—1 m above graft union; length 180 cm; diameter 5-7            cm; crotch angle 70°; color light brown RHS 200D.-   Dormant one year old shoot:    -   -   Size.—Diameter 5-6 mm; Length 30-40 cm.        -   Color.—Brown RHS 200C.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.        -   Lenticels.—Size 1-2 mm, density 1-2/cm².-   Flowers:    -   -   Bud.—Quantity per spur 34; length 9-11 m; shape slightly            pointed; color red-purple RHS 63A.        -   Petals.—Shape round; Quantity per flower 5; Margins free to            touching; Length 19-20 mm; Width 13-14 mm Apex shape            slightly pointed; Base shape round; upper surface color            white pink RHS 65D; Lower surface color white RHS 65C when            fully open.        -   Flower.—Diameter of fully open flower 2-2.5 cm; Quantity per            cluster 4.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower 5; Shape triangular; color green            RHS 135B.        -   Pedicel.—Length 18-20 mm; Diameter 1-2 mm; Color            greyed-purple RHS 187A.        -   Pistil.—Length 12-13 mm; Color yellow-green RHS 145D.        -   Anthers.—Quantity per flower 15-16; length 2 mm; pollen            color yellow RHS 12C.        -   Stigma.—Size 1 mm; Color RHS 11D.        -   Style.—Length 5-6 mm; color yellow-Green RHS 145D.        -   Bloom period.—Early to Mid Season; first bloom April 10,            full bloom April 15 at Hérault, France.-   Leaf:    -   -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Upwards.        -   Size.—Length 10-11 cm; Width 2-3 cm; Length to Width Ratio            5-3.7.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Upper surface yellow-green RHS 147B; lower surface            yellow-green RHS 147C.        -   Shape.—Ovate; apex acuminate; base aequilateral.        -   Petiole.—Length 3-4 cm; width 0.5-1 mm; color yellow-green            RHS 147D.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Weight 150 g; diameter 75-80 mm.        -   Fruit shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Top.        -   Ribbing.—Absent.        -   Aperture of eye.—Closed.        -   Depth of eye basin.—8-10 mm.        -   Width of eye basin.—35-40 mm.        -   Stalk.—Diameter 0.5-1 mm; length 25-28 mm; Color RHS 199C.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—13-15 mm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—35 mm.        -   Lenticels.—Size 0.6-0.8 mm; density 7-9/cm².        -   Bloom of skin.—Absent.        -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent.        -   Ground color of skin.—Yellow-green.        -   Over color of skin.—Pink-red.        -   Amount of over color.—40-70 percent.        -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush with weakly defined            stripes.        -   Flesh.—Texture juicy, firm; yellow-white RHS 158D.        -   Brix.—14-16.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit 6-8; teardrop shape; color brown            RHS 200B.        -   Aroma.—Strong.        -   Harvest date.—Late: October 5.        -   Resistance/susceptibility to known            diseases/pests.—Susceptible to grey aphids.        -   Keeping quality.—Good.

1. We claim a new and distinct apple tree substantially as shown anddescribed herein.